Play area revamp begins

the colourful history of Eastville Park.

It's been wonderful to see the park come alive, with folks getting outside to play on the cricket pitch and football pitch, and fields filled with people enjoying the park.

The population our park serves is one of the most diverse in Bristol, and the vibes in summer are wonderful!

The lake has new life with families of baby birds, so it’s a good idea to keep dogs on leads, and go a bit slower on bikes when in the park, to keep it a safe place for everyone.

The walk between Eastville Lake, Snuff Mills and Oldbury Court is a wonderful way to get out, while staying in the shade along the river. This year our family explored the more adventurous path, keeping on the south bank of the river at Snuff Mills.

It’s not good for bikes or prams on the muddy trail, but if you want a walk with adventurous kids, it’s a fantastic way to enjoy these three green spaces and the lovely wildflowers en route.

If you’re lucky, you’ll even see the otter and kingfishers.

We are looking to put up a memorial plaque on the Old Swimming Pool Garden this summer, but also produce a booklet of Eastville Park history that was carefully researched and compiled by volunteers.

Search Facebook for Eastville Park History to see photos, find out about your local heritage and risk, usually during seasonal vaccination campaigns. Those most vulnerable, including care home residents, are being contacted by the NHS at the moment to arrange a jab.

However, carers and loved ones of those most at risk are not eligible for the booster.

Dr Geeta Iyer, clinical lead for the vaccination programme in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, said: “We are learning to live with Covid but cannot afford to be complacent – we are only able to live with this virus thanks to the excellent vaccination rates locally and across England. Covid-19 is still in wide circulation, and over 8,000 people are in hospital with a Covid infection. Older people and those with a weakened immune system remain at greatest risk of severe illness and being hospitalised from Covid-19, so if you are entitled to a spring top up vaccination, I strongly encourage you to take up the offer.

The Eastville Park Welcome Space, which has provided free drinks, meals and activities on Monday and Thursday, opens for the final time on Monday, June 5. There's Film Club on Saturday June 3 and social lawn bowling every Friday evening, while our next Pop-Up Café is on Sunday June 11.

Come down to say hello and enjoy some cake, while supporting your local park.

"It’s quick and easy to recharge your immunity and will give you protection.”

People who are eligible can book an appointment at their doctor’s surgery when invited, or by calling 119. You can also attend a walk-in community vaccination clinic: listed online at the grabajab.net website.

n WHAT’S ON IN OUR AREA

June 11 n OPEN FARM SUNDAY at Elm Tree Farm, Park Road, Stapleton, 11am-4pm. Tours of Bristol's oldest care farm supporting adults with learning disabilities, including rare breed animals, activities, farm shop. Book online at farmsunday. org. More details from lisa.allen@ brandontrust.org.

June 14 n WILD WOMEN at Hillfields Community Garden, 7-9pm. Supportive group for women of all ages with focus is on nature connection and wellbeing. More information from hillfieldswildwomen@gmail.com.

June 27 n HILLFIELDS COMMUNITY

GARDEN Mini Explorers friendly pre-school nature group for children aged 2-4, parents/carers and siblings, 10-11am. Free to attendno need to book in advance.

July 1 n BRISTOL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA SUMMER CONCERT, Frenchay Parish Church, 7.30pm with music by Holst, Vivaldi, Nielsen, Britten and Elgar. Tickets

£12 in advance, £15 on the door, Students £5, children free, includes refreshments. Call 0117 956 2106 or visit www.bristolchamberorchestra. org.uk.

Regular Events

Monday n BARTON HILL RFC CHARITY CAFE, Duncombe Lane, Speedwell, from noon until 3pm. Food and drink, bargain donated goods, friendly and welcoming place to meet, staffed entirely by volunteers raising money for charity.

Tuesday n PHOENIX ART CLUB meets on Tuesdays at Stapleton Church Hall, Park Road, from 10am to midday. n GARDENING IN RETIREMENT

CLUB, Every third Tuesday of every month at 10.15am at the Assembly Hall, Salisbury Road, Downend. Non-members welcome - £3 including tea or coffee.

Wednesday n BARTON HILL RFC CHARITY CAFE, Duncombe Lane, Speedwell, from noon until 3pm. Food and drink, bargain donated goods, friendly and welcoming place to meet, staffed entirely by volunteers raising money for charity. n DOWNEND FLOWER n HILLFIELDS COMMUNITY

ARRANGING CLUB meets at 7.30pm on the first and third Wednesday of each month from September to June, at Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road, Downend. Call Genise on 0777 245 1217.

GARDEN Gardening for Wellbeing group, every Wednesday from 10am-noon to support mental health and feelings of isolation. To find out more or ask to join, email hillfieldsgardenforwellbeing@gmail. com.

Friday n EASTVILLE PARK FOODCLUB n FRIENDS OF HILLFIELDS n IN-THE-PINK Sensible exercise to music for mature ladies every Friday, 9-10am, Hillfields Park Baptist Church, Thicket Avenue. Followed by chat & coffee, pay session-by-session. Get yourself fit & make new friends. More information from Julie on 07903 123793.

OPEN FOR COLLECTIONS, every Friday 12-1.30pm. To enquire about membership, email eastvilleparkfoodclub@gmail.com or call 07591 748548.

LIBRARY Silver Explorers social group for retired people living in Hillfields, every Friday, 10amnoon. Activities include talks, music, crafts and history. Free tea and coffee. More information at friendsofhillfieldslibrary@gmail.com or friends' Facebook page.

Saturday n LU LIFE CHURCH 'SHARED SPACES', Fishponds Old Library, Fishponds Road. Every 3rd Saturday of the month, 2-3pm. Singing, dancing and drumming. All welcome. For more details email LULifeChurch@gmail.com or call Rev P on 0750 839 0298. n VOLUNTEER GROUP at Hillfields Community Garden, every third Saturday of the month, 10am1pm. Meet your neighbours and have fun. Free lunch. More details from hillfieldscommunitygarden@ gmail.com. n FISHPONDS REPAIR CAFE All Saints Church on 1st Saturday of the month, 10am-noon and Vassall Centre on 3rd Saturday of the month, 10am-2pm. Drop in for advice and help in mending electrical, household or textile items, including toys and computers.

If you are looking for a home or a home for a loved one, we would be happy to show you around our beautiful, family-owned home in Fishponds, Bristol.

Quarry House Care Home, Adelaide Place, Channons Hill, Bristol, BS16 2ED

Phone box could be a lifesaver

repurposing it into a life-saving aid, by fitting it with a defibrillator, will be the most beneficial option for the community.

I fear that if action is not taken in the near future to preserve this piece of history, it may be removed along with the rest of these boxes - a missed opportunity to bring a life-saving asset to the Fishponds area.

James Ridgwell

Buses are appalling

I AM writing regarding a forgotten piece of history, left derelict in Fishponds, that could be transformed into a life-saving device.

There is a K6 red telephone box on the corner of Gill Ave and Vassal Road that has been left abandoned.

This classic British red telephone box is the only one of its kind left in the Fishponds area. There are only a handful of this iconic type left in Bristol, as most have been removed in more recent years due to the declining requirement for public telephones.

BT have launched a program that allows charities and organisations to purchase the box from them for £1, so that it can be repurposed. This will mean it can be given a fresh new useful life, whilst being preserved and saved from removal.

There are other possible uses for these boxes - local book exchanges, or information centres, for example - however, I believe

WE desperately need a bus franchising scheme with immediate effect: it couldn't possibly be worse than the slipshod sorry excuse for a service we're currently expected to endure.

The number 5 was axed, then replaced with the 47. What a flash in the pan that turned out to be!

I can now no longer access Yate in an easy and straightforward manner. Some of us do not have the time to make split journeys, and I've never had the option of being able to get to Cribbs Causeway directly from Fishponds either.

Here's a workable suggestion. How about extending the routes of the 48 and the 49 and have them run 'twixt the Centre and Yate/ Chipping Sodbury? It's a good idea, and resembles what a franchise would deliver.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris wants people to shop local. He obviously has no idea of what Fishponds is like compared to the thriving area it once was, when we had access to everything we needed and no need to go further afield.

How can you expect people to ditch private vehicles in favour of public transport when it's not userfriendly in any sense?

Mrs L Smith

Coronation memories

I CHECKED your website for details of Fishponds Coronation events and there appeared to be none.

I grew up in Fishponds (19491971) and attended Saint Mathias Infant School and then Manor Road Infants School.

We lived in Glaisdale Road, where there was a street party in the evening with a sound system supplied by our neighbour, Mr Prewett at number 13, who worked for Rediffusion.

There were fewer cars in the road then! Our neighbours at no. 17 had a 17in Ferguson TV and there were 23 of us watching the Coronation, with me on the floor.

After the Coronation there was a children's tea party, which was supposed to be in the road but it rained, so we went to the Methodist Church Hall on the Fishponds Road, which was later demolished for Tesco. The Manse was in Glaisdale Road and the Minister had children, so the change in venue was quickly arranged.

The children around the corner in Claverham Road had their party in an old Army lorry because of the rain, which seemed much more fun at the time!

Later in 1953 all the children from Manor Road Infants went in crocodile fashion to the Vandyck Cinema (now Wetherspoons) to watch a film of the Coronation in colour!

We were all given blue glass mugs to mark the Coronation and I still have mine.

John Cobbett

Thanks from RNLI

The Downend and Kingswood branch of the RNLI recently undertook a collection at Morrisons in Fishponds.

We are pleased to inform you that we raised £271.89 and are very grateful to everyone who contributed. Thanks also to Morrisons for letting us collect. The money raised will go towards saving lives at sea.

Antonette Bawdon (Secretary)

School reunion

CALLING all Rodway School expupils from 1963-1972 inclusive. A reunion has been organised to bring together old friends to catch up and remember their schooldays, on September 23 at the Bromley Suite, Cleve Rugby Club, Cossham Street in Mangotsfield.

There will be refreshments and a memorabilia table, so bring along any old photos or magazines you would like to share.

Among those attending will be head boys Nigel Newnham and Huw Powell, head girls Maureen Pragnell and Judith Pinkett, deputy head boy Tim Brain and deputy head girl Helen Kington.

For further information please email Rodway2023@gmail.com.

David James, Tim Organ and Judith Pinkett (committee)